Written by
Tessa Brandt Appliance Care EditorPublished October 29, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeF12
ApplianceCooktop
The meaning of F12 depends on which Maytag help entry applies. On an electric cooktop the fault may lie in a hotplate (the cooking surface, burner or element) or in its wiring. The separate entry for radiant elements instead describes an internal communication error on the touch control module.
Power reset
Switch the cooktop’s breaker(s) off and let a minute pass.
Restore the breaker(s).
Stay near the cooktop for a minute and confirm F12 is gone.
Verify that the cooktop operates.
When a reset is not enough
If the reset does not solve it, Maytag says assistance from a qualified technician may be needed. Element wiring and touch control work are not owner jobs.
Related Maytag cooktop codes
F13: the touch control communication error, same reset
Technician visits for F12 are arranged on (415) 649-2156 for San Francisco and nearby Bay Area homes. Read about Maytag cooktop repair, then have the model number and the burner you were using in mind.
Model compatibility: Maytag reuses codes across series and model years, so F12 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
A hotplate (burner or element) or its wiring may have a problem, or the touch control module has a communication error.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Maytag appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
Maytag describes F21 as overheating on radiant and induction cooktops and as a power supply frequency problem on electric ones. Both get a breaker reset.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
Yes. We provide an upfront estimate after diagnosis. No parts are ordered or installed until you approve the work, so there are no surprise charges.
Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
Service areas are listed on the Locations page. Contact us with your ZIP code to confirm current coverage for your address.
Ready to get your Maytag appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
